Patents by Inventor Sandra J. Horning

Sandra J. Horning has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Circuit tracer having an electric field sensor, a differential electric field sensor and an inductive sensor
    Patent number: 5444364
    Abstract: A circuit tracer for determinating the location of a conductor, such as a wire, which is either an open or closed circuit, and which may lie underground. The tracer includes a transmitter which is connected to the conductor, a hand-held probe, and a receiver which is connected to the probe. The probe has three different sensors: an electric field sensor, primarily for locating the terminus of an open-ended conductor or for distinguishing such a wire in a bundled cable of wires; a differential electric field sensor, for determining the direction to and location of an open-ended conductor located above ground; and an inductive sensor for determining the direction to and location of a current-carrying conductor, including an open-ended conductor lying below ground. A switch selectively provides the output from one of the sensors to the receiver unit, which determines the magnitude of any signal based upon the direction the probe is pointing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James R. Satterwhite, Sandra J. Horning, Gerald A. Wyatt, Daniel E. Reisem
  • Sensor array for circuit tracer
    Patent number: 5365163
    Abstract: A circuit tracer for determinating the location of a conductor, such as a wire, which is either an open or closed circuit, and which may lie underground. The tracer includes a transmitter which is connected to the conductor, a hand-held probe, and a receiver which is connected to the probe. The probe has three different sensors: an electric field sensor, primarily for locating the terminus of an open-ended conductor or for distinguishing such a wire in a bundled cable of wires; a differential electric field sensor, for determining the direction to and location of an open-ended conductor located above ground; and an inductive sensor for determining the direction to and location of a current-carrying conductor, including an open-ended conductor lying below ground. A switch selectively provides the output from one of the sensors to the receiver unit, which determines the magnitude of any signal based upon the direction the probe is pointing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James R. Satterwhite, Sandra J. Horning, Gerald A. Wyatt, Daniel E. Reisem